Jægere på bagholdsjagt i en båd 1860 - 1865

Rodolphe Bresdin created this print, "Hunters Ambush Hunting in a Boat," using lithography, a process that democratized image-making in the 19th century. Unlike traditional etching or engraving on metal, lithography involves drawing on a flat stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then treating the surface so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. This allowed for a more direct, spontaneous approach, mirroring the immediacy of drawing. You can see this freedom in the tangled vegetation and swirling clouds, all rendered with a delicate, almost frenetic energy. Consider the social context: lithography’s accessibility made it ideal for mass production, fueling the growth of illustrated newspapers and commercial art. Bresdin, however, used the medium to explore his own visionary world, blurring the line between fine art and the graphic arts. The very act of choosing lithography speaks to a desire to reach a wider audience, even while depicting a scene of secluded pursuit. It reminds us that even the most solitary subjects are shaped by the currents of their time.